"How We Live" Is in Sebastião Salgado Tradition of Documentary Photography

Reviewed by Nairi Varteressian

In the context of the "How We Live" exhibition, Sara Anjargolian's photographs demonstrate the validity of the old axiom "a picture is worth a thousand words"—particularly thanks to the sheer audacity of the show's curator and designer, Narineh Mirzaeian. An architect by training who works as a project manager with Frank Gehry, Mizraeian insisted that the images be blown up and printed on large hanging fabrics, and lighted in such a way that the viewer cannot disengage from the striking imagery, but connects with the larger-than-life people in Anjargolian's narrative. The double-sided "posters" are made of fabric that hang from black ropes attached to the warehouse beams. Viewers walk in circles and feel as if they are entering the living rooms of the poor, rather than remaining detached by staring at two-dimensional photographs on a gallery wall.

"How We Live" Exhibit Uses Innovative DesignA photographer and attorney, Anjargolian was commissioned by the Tufenkian Foundation to capture the daily struggles of Armenians. Over 40 large prints of her work were displayed during the "How We Live" exhibit opening/fundraiser that took place on March 26th and 27th at Casitas Studios in Atwater Village. The exhibit included nine families living in extreme poverty in the villages of Geghard, Getap, Nubarashen, Arinch, Vanadzor, the outskirts of Etchmiadzin and even the capital of Armenia, Yerevan. A short documentary showed Anjarolian interviewing some of her subjects in Armenian, with English subtitles. Visit howwelive.org.
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As you walked through the exhibit, the images of poverty were striking and depressing, even haunting. A sense of hopelessness engulfed the viewer. Yet, as one's gaze turned outward, and you saw the hundreds of people surrounding you, despair turned to hope, for as you heard voices discussing these images, you realized suddenly that these men, women and children now had a voice and were no longer in the darkness.

Sara Anjargolian in front of one of her images: (photo Nairi Varteressian)Even the photographer herself, when asked if she felt helpless to affect change after going into this venture, answered, "Not at all, because we are here today." I couldn't agree with her more. Anjargolian's superb work not only raised money for these families and all the families that the Tufenkian Foundation is aware of (28% of Armenia's population lives below the poverty line, according to the 2009 World Bank Report), it also spread awareness of the extent to which people don't have the basic necessities to survive. For example, the nearest water source for Ruzana's family is a one-hour roundtrip walk that the children take turns walking every day. Armine's family was so poor she had to feed her children sugar water. These are just two examples of people in dire need that represent the suffering of thousands of people.

The families living in these situations will not only receive financial aid from the Tufenkian Foundation but also social services from its Zangakatun (Belltower) program. The program differentiates itself from other poverty alleviating programs in that it doesn't simply focus on the basic necessities of the poor, such as providing food and clothing, but realizes the pressing need for social services and provides educational services, counseling, and hosts recreational and cultural activities.

The exhibit served its purpose in that it opened peoples' eyes to the sad reality of poverty in a Third World country. Unavoidably, perhaps, as you view Anjargolian's photographs, a part of you feels helpless, yet a larger part of you, overcome by compassion, feels compelled to do something. The "How We Live" exhibit inspires one to want to make a difference in the world. As Nelson Mandela said, "Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice."

The "How We Live" exhibit runs through April 18, 2010, Casitas Studios, 3229 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039. Gallery hours are as follows or by appointment, info@howwelive.org. Visit howwelive.org.
Friday April 2, 2010 7-10 pm
Saturday April 10, 2010 6-10 pm
Sunday April 18, 2010 6-9 pm

See more photos at Levantine's Flickr page.

Nairi Varteressian, a program associate at Levantine Cultural Center, is an Armenian American of Iranian and Lebanese heritage. She graduated from UC Berkeley with B.A.s in both Anthropology and Development Studies, with a regional emphasis in the Middle East.